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There have been a number of studies which have demonstrated the power of prayer. In one study, groups of people who had similar problems were divided into two groups. The first group went through counseling only. The second group went through the same counseling process, but at the end of each session they were given a little prayer card. On the prayer card the counselor listed a specific issue, problem, or character defect for which the person was to pray about each day during the following week.

After several weeks there was an obvious difference in the two groups. The first group made some improvement, but the second group â€” the praying group â€” were noticeably improved. Yet the only difference was the addition of daily prayer.

The interesting part of these experiments was that the praying group was no more religious than the non-praying group. Both groups had in equal number of people who attended church or were committed Christians.

Jesus spoke very directly, "Ask, and you will be given what you ask for. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Anyone who seeks, finds. If only you will knock, the door will open." (Living Bible — Matthew 7:7-8)

Jesus then tells a simple story to drive his point home. "If a child asks his father for a loaf of bread, will he be given a stone instead? If he asks for a fish, will he be given a poisonous snake? Of course not! And if you hard-hearted, simple men know how to give good gifts to your children, won't your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who asked him for them?"

Remember, sex addicts want to be in control of their own lives. Addicts have a major ego problem. Therefore, many addicts think of prayer as another task. They often try to get out of praying by asking lots of questions, "Does this really work?" Or, “I’m not really a religious personâ€”I don’t think God will hear me anyway.”

Surrendering is perhaps the hardest job that it addict must learn. Prayer is a good place to start learning to surrender. Your daily quiet time, the continual praying away of lust, and surrendering your powerlessness over lust to God, are all part of gaining victory over lust.

Stop yourself every time you are tempted to ask those questions, "How does this prayer thing work?" Or, "Do I really have to attend all those meetings and do all these readings?" Or, "Isn't my sponsor being unrealistic?" Or, "Do I have to spend this much time every day praying away my lust â€” after all, lust is so normal to menâ€”"Boys will be boys?" For now set those questions aside, just do which were toldâ€”just submitâ€”trust the process of those who have gone before you.

Prayer is a key part of your submission process. Throughout the day, surrender yourself to God. Tell him frankly you don't understand all of this, but you are surrendering your lust, and yourself to Him.